Project 1
The ASD UK Twins Study
At Clarisen Research, we are dedicated to helping advance the health and well-being of children, including those who have autism diagnosis, through science-based approaches. Our first research project, The ASD UK Twins Study, represents a pivotal step towards understanding how nutrition, metabolism, and gut health intersect to influence the lives of autistic children.
​
With autism diagnoses rising globally, families are left searching for answers to common challenges like extreme food sensitivities, gut issues, and low energy. We believe these are not just separate symptoms, but connected pieces of a larger biological puzzle. This study seeks to find the missing links by focusing on twins, offering a unique opportunity to separate genetic influences from environmental and nutritional factors.
​
Our Immediate Goal: Launching the Proof-of-Concept Study
​
Your support will fund our £50,000 proof-of-concept study, generating the first critical dataset of its kind. This initial data is the essential key to unlocking the next phase: a comprehensive £200,000 research programme designed to first confirm our findings in a larger group and then conduct a follow-up intervention study based on what we discover.
​
Your support today will directly fund this crucial first step.
​​
Project Aim
​
This study will move beyond simply documenting what autistic children eat, to investigate why they eat the way they do. Are nutrient deficits primarily due to dietary behaviours, or are they a result of underlying metabolic dysfunction? We aim to uncover how nutrient status, metabolism, and gut health interact to influence dietary behaviours and overall well-being.
Nutritional Insights
Generate comprehensive nutritional profiles of autistic twins, particularly focusing on deficiencies in vital micronutrients. The researchers we support will investigate the correlation between these deficiencies and the severity of ASD symptoms, alongside their influence on cognitive and metabolic functions.

Thyroid Health
Examine thyroid hormone levels in relation to nutritional markers, particularly iodine and selenium, to better understand how thyroid dysfunction contributes to autism symptomatology. A focus will be placed on how nutrient imbalances may impair thyroid function, and how such disruptions could in turn influence neurodevelopment, metabolic health, and nutrient utilisation in autistic children.

Gut Health Analysis
Analyse stool and blood samples to comprehensively assess gut health, going beyond microbiome diversity to also measure markers of gut inflammation (like calprotectin) and barrier function. By identifying these specific imbalances, the researchers hope to shed light on the brain-gut axis and its role in ASD, potentially informing new microbiome-targeted therapies.
Interconnected Findings
Most importantly, we will piece these elements together. By identifying how these factors combine, we aim to provide deeper insights into personalised strategies for managing health in autism.
Long-term Impact & Future Vision
This proof-of-concept study is the foundation. Its findings will pave the way for future research focused on actionable interventions—such as targeted nutritional support—aimed at improving metabolic function, correcting deficiencies, and restoring gut balance.
Ultimately, this work will contribute to science-backed guidelines, giving families and healthcare providers practical tools to improve the lives of autistic individuals.
This research is being strengthened by the expertise of leading scientists:
Professor Glenn Gibson (University of Reading), ranked among the UK’s top microbiologists and globally recognised for his contributions to gut microbiome research.
Professor Adele Costabile (University of Roehampton), whose work in nutrition and gut health ranks in the top 1% of highly cited articles in the field.
Dr Ritika Kapoor (King’s College London), a neuroendocrinology expert committed to exploring innovative health solutions.
Together, they aim to harmonise knowledge across disciplines to develop holistic approaches that can improve outcomes for autistic children.
​
Please note that research collaborators are not directly or indirectly associated with any health protocols.
If you would like full project costings please click here or more details please request our full project proposal by dropping us an email.
